Trestle type table with folding legs

ABSTRACT

A pair of I legs are attached to a table top spaced apart longitudinally of the top and mounted for folding and unfolding movement longitudinally of the top. A stretcher bar is rotatably supported by, and comprises part of, a bracket assembly, which is mounted on the top between the leg mountings for folding and unfolding movement transversely of the table top. Projecting from the ends of the stretcher bar are pin means with heads adapted, in one angular position of the bar to enter slots in the legs respectively when the bracket assembly is in unfolded position and the unfolded legs are moved toward the ends of the bar, and to extend across the slots from within the legs when the bar is rotated to another angular position. A combination bar handle and bar locking means is provided.

United States Patent [191 Burr [1 1 3,818,844 51 June 25, 1974 1 1 TRESTLE TYPE TABLE WITH FOLDING LEGS [75] Inventor: Alan Carleton Burr, East Norwalk, Conn.

[73] Assignee: Howe Furniture Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 340,464

[52] U.S. Cl. 108/132, 248/188.6 [51] Int. Cl A47b 3/08 [58] Field of Search 108/132,131,129,133; 248/1886, 188

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 155,990 10/1874 Valley 103/131 965,338 7/1910 Smiljanic 108/131 1,923,281 8/1933 Smith 108/131 2,546,816 3/1951 Benvissuto 108/130 3,628,471 12/1971 Burr 108/132 Primary ExaminerBobby R. Gay

Assistant ExaminerDarrell Marquette V Attorney, Agent, or Firm lohn W. Hoag; Robert A. Buckles; Garold E. Bramblett, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A pair of 1 legs are attached to a table top spaced apart longitudinally of the top and mounted for fold ing and unfolding movement longitudinally of the top. A stretcher bar is rotatably supported by, and comprises part of, a bracket assembly, which is mounted on the top between the leg mountings for folding and unfolding movement transversely of the table top. Projecting from the ends of the stretcher bar are pin means with heads adapted, in one angular position of the bar to enter slots in the legs respectively when the bracket assembly is in unfolded position and the unfolded legs are moved toward the ends of the bar, and to extend across the slots from within the legs when the bar is rotated to another angular position. A combination bar handle and bar locking means is provided.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED Z 3,818,844

SHEET 1 BF 2 1 1 l TRESTLE TYPE TABLE WITH FOLDING LEGS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention-relates to a folding trestle type table and particularly to locking means controlled by a rotatable bar which engages and interconnects the table legs when they are in unfolded, operative position.

Trestle type tables with inverted T legs fixed to the table top have long been known. Itis an object of this invention to provide tables similar in appearance to the non-folding trestle type tables of the prior art but with support means which may be moved between, a folded position substantially parallel and adjacent to the under surface of the top, with the legs folded toward one another and the stretcher bar disconnected from the legs and swung over against the top in a direction at right angles to the folding and unfolding movements of the legs, and an unfolded position in which the legs are each disposed at a right angle to the top and are interconnected and held in rigid, operative top supporting position by thesaid stretcher bar.

SUMMARY OF THE DESCRIPTION A pair of I shaped legs are hinged to the under surface of a table in spaced relation longitudinallyof the top for separate swinging movement longitudinally of t the top. A stretcher assembly comprising, a stretcher bar for interconnecting the legs in unfolded position, and bracket means for supporting the stretcher bar so that it is at all times rotatable around its longitudinal axis, is hinged to thetop between the said legs for swinging movement transversely of the top; The leg mounting means permits each leg when unlocked from the stretcher bar to swing through an arc of more than 90. Each leg may swing from a position in which it is normal to the top and in abutting and engaged relation to one end of stretcher means, first in a direction away from the other leg and the adjacent end of the stretcher bar to disengage the stretcher bar, and then after the stretcher assembly has been swung transversely of the top, in a direction toward the other leg to a position substantially parallel to the top but overlying the folded over stretcher assembly.

The stretcher bar is mounted by its supporting bracket in such a way that it is at all times rotatably around its longitudinal axis. Projecting outwardly from the respective ends of the stretcher bar are pins with enlarged flat heads adapted when disposed at the proper rotary angle and when the legs and the stretcher assembly are in unfolded position to enter into slots provided in the opposed leg members. The rotary angle of the pin heads is controlled by rotation of the stretcher bar. For locking the legs to the stretcher bar when the legs and the stretcher assembly are in unfolded position the legs are swung outwardly somewhat beyond their unfolded operating position and the pin heads are aligned with the opposed slots in the legs by rotation of the stretcher bar; the legs are then moved inwardly to receive the pin heads in the slots, and the stretcher bar is then further rotated to rotate the pin heads within the legs and behind the slots to a position in which they are disposed across the slots and cannot be withdrawn through the slots until the stretcher bar is again rotated to align the said heads with the slots. When the stretcher assembly is folded over transversely of the top the legs can be folded down over the top with the foot members of the legs disposed over the already folded swinging bracket which includes and provides the mounting for the rotatable stretcher bar.

The invention will be best understood by reading the following description in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 isan isometric view of the table with the legs unfolded and locked in operative position,

FIG. 2 is a plan view looking at the under surface of the top with the legs and the leg locking means in folded position,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of the invertedstructure partly cut away and in section showing the relation of a leg in unfolded position and the stretcher bar before being rotated into locking position, and showing means attached to the stretcher bar, which in one position is operative as a handle to facilitate rotation of the bar, and in another position is operative to prevent inadvertent rotation of the bar,

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the Iine'5--5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4 but shows the stretcher bar rotated to locking position andthe means attached to the stretcher bar moved from handle forming angular position to a position in which the two arms of its bifurcated forward portion extend on opposite sides of a leg and prevent the stretcher bar being inadvertently rotated, and

FIG. 7 is a top view partly insection taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings a trestle type table is shown comprising, a table top 10 having legs L spaced apart longitudinally of the top and each rotatably mounted by bracket means 18 on the'lower surface of the top for movement between an unfolded position, beyond operative position substantially normal to the top, and an inoperative position in whichthe legs are folded over toward one another into a position in which they overlie the top and are disposed in a plane substantially parallel to the top. Disposedlongitudinallyof the top 10 on its under surface, between the longitudinally spaced fixed brackets 18, a swinging bracket means B is provided which includes a trestle bar 26 by the rotation of which the legs L may be locked in unfolded position or unlocked for folding. The bracket means B is movable transversely of the table between an unfolded, operative position in which it is normal to the under surface of the top and a folded position in which it overlies the under surface of the top, and is disposed beneath the folded legs.

Each leg L is I shaped and comprises an intermediate, preferably tubular portion 12 with the parallel cross bars 14 and 16, preferably also tubular, at its respective ends. The cross bar 14 at the outer end of portion 12 constitutes a foot extending transversely of the top. The cross bar 16 is mounted for rotation between the end flanges 19 of a channel shaped bracket 18 which is dis posed transversely of the top, extending across the longitudinal midline of the top, the bracket 18 being secured to the under surface of the top in any suitable way as by screws 20.

Secured to the crossbar 16 and opening outwardly toward an end of the top is a three-sided keeper 23 in which is mounted a resilient bumper member 22a which is in turn resting on a second resilient bumper member 22b which may be secured on bracket 18 in any suitable way. In the process of locking legs L to the stretcher bar 26 or releasing the legs from the stretcher bar 26 the legs are rotated outwardly, toward the table ends respectively, beyond a position in which they are normal to the top, and when rotated outwardly in this manner the resilient bumper members 22a and 22b serve as yielding stop means allowing some swinging of the legs beyond a right angle position with respect to the top, but preventing unnecessary and excessive outward swinging movement of the legs.

The swinging bracket means B comprises, a channel member 28 disposed longitudinally of the top on its under surface and extending between the transversely extending leg-supporting brackets 18. Channel member 28 is mounted to the under surface of the table top by hinge means 30 which permit the member to swing transversely of the top through 90, between a position in which its intermediate portion is in abutting relation to the top and a position in which one of its side flanges is in abutting relation to the top.

Fixed to the channel member 28 and projecting outwardly from the channel member 28 adjacent its ends are the bracket arms 32 each of which adjacent its outer end has a bore 34 extending through it longitudinally of the top, and suspended between the outer ends of arms 32, by pins 36, which extend through the said bores respectively, is the stretcher bar 26. Pins 36 extend beyond the arms 32 and their outer ends terminate respectively in the thin but wide heads 37 which in one angular position are adapted to be aligned with a slot 24 inan opposed leg portion 12. It will be understood that the pins 36 are rotatable within the bores 34 in arms 32 and that accordingly the stretcher bar 26 may be rotated around its longitudinal axis to change and control the position of the enlarged head portions 37 of pins 36.

For locking the legs L in unfolded operative position the legs are moved outwardly beyond their top supporting position in which they are normal to the top, and

stretcher bar 26 is rotated to align the heads 37 with the opposed slots 24 in the legs, after which the legs are swung back to normal position, during which movement the heads 37 enter into the legs L through slots 24 respectively. Stretcher bar 26 is then rotated through substantially 90 to rotate the heads 37 within the legs to a position extending across the slots and thus locking the legs to the ends of the stretcher bar and in unfolded operative position.

To unlock the legs the stretcher bar 26 is rotated to align heads 34 with slots 24 and the legs are swung outwardly sufficiently to clear the heads from within the legs, after which if desired the bracket assembly B may be folded transversely of the top and the legs L may be folded inwardly toward one another to extend along the top and over the folded bracket assembly.

Pivotally mounted on stretcher bar 26, as by pivot 40 is a half round member 38 which may be moved between a position resting on and extending partly around bar 26 and a position in which it is angularly related to bar 26 and may be used as a handle for rotating bar 26.

The outer end of member 38 is bifurcated providing two spaced parallel arms 39, 39 which, when member 38 is resting on bar 26, extend on opposite sides of the portion 12 of a leg L and thus prevent bar 26 from being inadvertently rotated.

What I claim is:

l. A folding trestle table comprising a top,

a pair of legs spaced longitudinally of the top, and

means supporting the legs from the top for folding and unfolding movement longitudinally of the top,

a trestle bar assembly including a bracket supported on the under surface of the top for swinging movement transversely of the top, and a trestle bar member carried by the bracket by means permitting the bar to be rotated around its longitudinal axis the trestle bar having pinsprojecting outwardly from its ends respectively, said pins having heads of different cross-sectional dimensions, and the legs defining slots adapted when the parts are unfolded to receive the heads respectively when the heads are presented at the proper rotational angle,

the means for mounting the legs being adapted to permit the legs to be swung outwardly beyond operative position and back to engage and disengage the heads of the pins when the heads are properly positioned by rotation of the bar.

2. The table structure claimed in claim 1 in which each leg is l shaped having parallel cross bars at either end of an intermediate portion, means for mounting one cross-bar of each leg on the under side of the top for rotation around an axis extending transversely of the top, and means positioned between the mounted cross bar and an end of the table for yieldingly and resiliently opposing unfolding movement of the leg substantially beyond its operative table supporting positron.

3. The table structure claimed in claim 1 in which the bracket comprises a member extending longitudinally of the top between the longitudinally spaced leg mounting means, arms projecting from said member and nor mal to said member, said arms each having a bore extending through it longitudinally of the table, the said pins extending through the bores in said arms respectively which are thereby rotatably mounted within said assembly, and hinge means interconnecting said bracket member and the table top and disposed for folding and unfolding movement of the trestle bar assembly transversely of the top. 

1. A folding trestle table comprising a top, a pair of legs spaced longitudinally of the top, and means supporting the legs from the top for folding and unfolding movement longitudinally of the top, a trestle bar assembly including a bracket supported on the under surface of the top for swinging movement transversely of the top, and a trestle bar member carRied by the bracket by means permitting the bar to be rotated around its longitudinal axis the trestle bar having pins projecting outwardly from its ends respectively, said pins having heads of different crosssectional dimensions, and the legs defining slots adapted when the parts are unfolded to receive the heads respectively when the heads are presented at the proper rotational angle, the means for mounting the legs being adapted to permit the legs to be swung outwardly beyond operative position and back to engage and disengage the heads of the pins when the heads are properly positioned by rotation of the bar.
 2. The table structure claimed in claim 1 in which each leg is I shaped having parallel cross bars at either end of an intermediate portion, means for mounting one cross-bar of each leg on the under side of the top for rotation around an axis extending transversely of the top, and means positioned between the mounted cross bar and an end of the table for yieldingly and resiliently opposing unfolding movement of the leg substantially beyond its operative table supporting position.
 3. The table structure claimed in claim 1 in which the bracket comprises a member extending longitudinally of the top between the longitudinally spaced leg mounting means, arms projecting from said member and normal to said member, said arms each having a bore extending through it longitudinally of the table, the said pins extending through the bores in said arms respectively which are thereby rotatably mounted within said assembly, and hinge means interconnecting said bracket member and the table top and disposed for folding and unfolding movement of the trestle bar assembly transversely of the top. 